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Aston Villa opened their account in the Premier League for 2025 with a 2-1 victory over Leicester City, which would have been a welcome result come full-time after drawing their final clash of 2024 in the league.

But, the game would have felt far nervier for the Villans fans watching on when you consider their side’s leakiness reared its ugly head once more, having conceded to a Foxes team who had just two shots on target all afternoon and are lingering near the foot of the division.

Therefore, Emery must surely be using this January transfer window as a way to bolster his options defensively, with this high profile loan signing now rumoured.

Aston Villa enquire about wantaway defender

As per a report by French outlet L’Equipe, Villa have now enquired about signing wantaway Paris St. Germain centre-back Milan Skriniar this month on loan, with the Slovakian defender wanting to leave PSG due to a lack of first-team chances.

Villa are joined by Tottenham Hotspur in their pursuit of the ex-Inter Milan brute according to the report, as Ange Postecoglou attempts to solve his side’s own defensive woes, with Skriniar reportedly keen on playing in the Premier League in the near future away from the French capital.

There will also likely be an option for Emery’s men to make the deal permanent, with a hope that the 6 foot 2 star could be another loan success for Villa away from a major titan like Philippe Coutinho proved to be, before falling down the pecking order in the West Midlands when he joined the club for good from Barcelona.

Why Skriniar could be Coutinho 2.0

Obviously, in the minds of Villa fans now, the deal to bring in the Brazilian attacking midfielder was a major flop, considering the expensive 32-year-old has since been discarded to Vasco De Gama on loan.

But, once upon a time, the ex-Liverpool man was a loved figure by all at Villa Park, with five goals and three assists picked up during his debut campaign after arriving from Barcelona on an initial temporary deal in January 2022.

With hindsight now very much on their side, the Villans might not have subsequently forked out £17m though, with Coutinho only managing one more goal contribution since.

Emery will just pray that Skriniar can come in and be similarly impactful in the short-term – away from worrying about issues regarding tieing him down to a permanent stay – with Villa in dire need of more resolute bodies defensively with Pau Torres now sidelined and their record at the back this season not being particularly rosy.

Position/club

Goals conceded

1. Liverpool

19

2. Arsenal

18

3. Nottingham Forest

19

4. Chelsea

24

5. Newcastle United

22

6. Manchester City

27

7. AFC Bournemouth

23

8. Aston Villa

32

9. Fulham

27

10. Brighton and Hove Albion

29

Sourced by BBC Sport

By three goals more, Villa have conceded the most goals in the current top ten of the Premier League at a worrying 32, with the injury-stricken Torres only keeping two clean sheets from 18 top-flight outings.

Therefore, Skriniar could come to the rescue to help Emery’s men shut up shop more effectively, having actually kept a clean sheet on his last appearance for PSG in Ligue 1 before pushing for a move away.

At the peak of his powers in the Serie A too, Skriniar would make his all defensive hard work look easy, with the 2021/22 season for Inter seeing him average a cool and composed 92% pass accuracy per league contest, whilst also showing off his fierce approach aerially by winning 3.9 duels on average.

Italian football writer Jerry Mancini would even label the Slovak as “incredible” when he was regularly battling away at Inter, with the well-thought-of defender – who journalist Siavoush Fallahi also previously dubbed a “monster” – a presence that could be transformative for a ropey Villa defence.

Of course, this could all prove to be too good to be true much like Coutinho – with the defender’s steep £263k-per-week salary an easy target for concern – but Villa might well deem snapping up this fresh centre-back as a risk worth taking.

Aston Villa chasing a bigger talent than Malen who's a "future superstar"

The Villans are looking to bolster their attack

ByJoe Nuttall Jan 8, 2025

Speculation season is upon us and Celtic will have to navigate the next few weeks of the January transfer window, which officially opened for business last week.

The Hoops confirmed their first piece of business of the month earlier this week, as central defender Stephen Welsh completed a short-term loan move to Belgian side Mechelen until the end of the season.

He had only featured in one match in the Scottish Premiership during the first half of the season and Brendan Rodgers has decided that the centre-back will not be needed in the coming months.

The Scottish academy graduate is not the only Celtic player who could be on his way out of Parkhead before the end of the January transfer window, however, as there are a number of stars in a similar position to the one he was in.

Odin Thiago Holm falls into that category and he is reportedly on the verge of a loan move to MLS side LAFC until the end of their 2025 season.

Another Celtic man who could find himself playing for a new club by February is winger Luis Palma, who has been linked with a move away from Glasgow this month.

The latest on Luis Palma's Celtic future

The Honduras international has only started one game in the Scottish Premiership so far this season, and that has, naturally, led to speculation over his long-term future at Paradise.

Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph recently reported that Spanish side Rayo Vallecano are interested in a deal to sign the former Aris sensation in the January transfer window.

The reporter claimed that the LaLiga outfit have already made an approach to snap up the left-sided attacker, with a proposal that would see him initially join them on loan with an option to make the deal permanent in the summer.

Joseph added that Celtic are reluctant to move the forward on from Parkhead at this moment in time, but they are also open to offers for his services, which shows that he is not untouchable and that their stance can be changed.

It now remains to be seen whether or not Rayo Vallecano’s proposal is tempting enough for the Premiership champions to sanction an exit for the winger, who has featured in the club’s last two league matches.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Joseph reported earlier this month that Genoa and Olympiacos are also interested in signing Palma, though, which suggests that there is not a shortage of suitors for the 24-year-old ace and that the competition for his signature could drive an auction that increases the fee Celtic can rake in for him.

The question for Rodgers and the Hoops board, however, is whether the money on offer is enough to compensate for what they would lose by allowing him to leave, and his performances over the past 12 months or so suggest that the Scottish giants would not be missing much.

Why Celtic should sell Luis Palma

Whether it is on an initial loan or a permanent deal right away, Celtic should cash in on the Honduran forward because his form has, simply, not been good enough to warrant keeping him amid such intense interest from elsewhere.

Since the start of 2024, Palma has produced two goals and zero assists in 20 appearances in the Premiership for the Hoops, including zero goal contributions in seven league outings this season.

The 24-year-old ace had scored five goals and provided nine assists in 15 league matches for Celtic during the first half of the 2023/24 campaign but his form since the turn of the year in that season has been dismal.

Appearances

7

Starts

1

Goals

0

Assists

0

Big chances created

1

As you can see in the table above, Palma has offered very little to Rodgers on the pitch in the Premiership this term, with zero goal contributions and one ‘big chance’ created for his teammates.

Ahead of the January window, Belgian outlet Gazet van Antwerpen, via the Daily Record, reported that Celtic target Michel Ange Balikwisha is set to be available for a fee of £7.5m, and the Antwerp winger could come in to replace the Honduran attacker.

Why Celtic should sign Michel Ange Balikwisha

The Hoops should swoop to sign the Belgian youngster this month because he could come in as a big upgrade on Palma in the left wing position for Rodgers.

Celtic’s current forward has, as aforementioned, produced very little of note in the last year, with his struggles at the top end of the pitch, and Balikwisha could come in to offer more than him in the final third.

It would not be a transfer without risk, though, as the 23-year-old star struggled with injuries this season, missing 21 matches with thigh and muscle issues.

Celtic could, in theory, use that to their advantage and look to negotiate a lower price with Antwerp, due to his lengthy absence from the pitch this term, and then hope that they can help him to avoid any further fitness problems.

His form, when fit, during the 2023/24 campaign suggests that the potential is there for him to come in as a fantastic addition to the squad if they can keep him fit.

Appearances

33

Starts

27

xG

6.46

Goals

7

Big chances created

6

Assists

5

As you can see in the table above, Balikwisha was fit enough to feature in 33 league games last term, having also scored ten goals in 42 matches in all competitions in the previous season.

In those matches, the Hoops target, who was once described as one of a number of “incredible” young talents by U23 scout Antonio Mango, showcased his quality in the final third, with 13 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined.

Whilst they are not outstanding, Nicolas Kuhn level, statistics, Balikwisha is capable of consistently chipping in with goal contributions, which is something that Palma has not done for 13 months or so now.

Even worse than Idah: Rodgers must drop Celtic man who lost 83% duels

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers should instantly drop the forward from the starting XI.

4 ByDan Emery Jan 9, 2025

Therefore, the Belgian star, who also has plenty of room left to develop at the age of 23, could come in as a big upgrade on the wanted forward, by offering more quality and consistency at the top end of the pitch.

This is why Celtic should gamble on a deal for Balikwisha and swoop for the Antwerp dynamo before the end of the transfer window, whilst allowing Palma to join one of the sides interested in signing him.

Unbeaten in their last three games in all competitions, with a 2-0 win against Chelsea obviously sticking out during this positive patch of results, the spirits are currently high at Ipswich Town.

With two home games up next versus Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester City, Kieran McKenna will pray more points are added next to their Premier League total, as the Suffolk underdogs attempt everything in their power to not sink down to the Championship straight away.

The top-flight is a cruel beast unfortunately, but McKenna will remain optimistic, especially if he can get a tune out of Kalvin Phillips between now and the end of the season after he stood out against Bristol Rovers in FA Cup action.

Kalvin Phillips' loan spell at Ipswich so far

It’s been a topsy-turvy loan stint so far for Phillips with various different highs and lows being thrown his way.

His unfortunate red card against Leicester City back in November will go down as a glaring negative – with the Foxes going on to pick up a share of the points with the ex-Leeds United man off the pitch – but his showings away from this bleak moment in isolation have been somewhat encouraging.

He even scored a belter against the Gas last time out to get his Ipswich account up and running, whilst his other performances in the Premier League have seen his past Leeds confidence back on display in spurts, with 3.4 ball recoveries and 3.6 duels successfully won per match.

Therefore, there is plenty for the much-maligned 29-year-old to cling onto for positives, with Phillips now wanting to nail down a permanent spot in the middle of the park, even as the Tractor Boys line up an audacious swoop for a former Premier League title winner.

Ipswich keen on signing amazing midfield partner for Phillips

As per Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg over the weekend, Ipswich are exploring a potential deal for former Chelsea brute Nemanja Matic this January, with McKenna wanting more proven Premier League battlers in his team.

After all, figures such as Sam Morsy in central areas have notably struggled to adjust to the huge step-up in quality from the EFL to the Premier League, with the 33-year-old giving away a penalty recklessly in his side’s last outing in the division versus Fulham.

Whilst Matic isn’t exactly a spring chicken himself at 36 years of age, his experience in the top-flight goes without saying, with 251 appearances in the tricky league under his belt for both Chelsea and Manchester United.

At Stamford Bridge, he would even hold the title aloft twice as a key cog in the middle, with his known combative play style not lessening the deeper he gets into his career, as seen in his glowing recent numbers on the books of Olympique Lyonnais.

Games played

13

Touches*

59.5

Accurate passes*

44.5 (86%)

Tackles*

1.5

Ball recoveries*

5.7

Total duels won*

2.8

Described as an “unbelievable” player in his prime by journalist Bolarinwa Olajide, one of his best campaigns in English football saw him win a stunning 5.6 duels per game during 2017/18. He is undoubtedly still a tough tackler unafraid to break up play in his twilight years, with an impressive 5.7 ball recoveries managed in Ligue 1 this term.

For context, Jens Cajuste has only managed 3.1 on the contrary, with Matic’s presence allowing the Tractor Boys to feel more secure at the back with an anchor protecting the defence, whilst also gifting Phillips more license to roam and attack away from completing his dirty work.

With 24 assists in the Premier League also to his name, this could be an inspired signing by McKenna if he can get the Serbian to play out of his skin between now and the end of the season, with the veteran and Phillips combining to form a menacing duo.

Better than Phillips: 61-touch Ipswich ace has now made himself undroppable

Ipswich Town eased past Bristol Rovers 3-0 in the FA Cup.

1 ByKelan Sarson Jan 12, 2025

Liverpool’s so-called circumspection in the transfer market has been more than offset by sustained success under FSG’s guidance across the past decade or so.

Arne Slot’s start to life as Jurgen Klopp’s successor has been a remarkable thing, more so when you consider the summer spending presented only Federico Chiesa as the sole first-team signing, a wonderful talent but discarded by money-troubled Juventus ahead of the final year of his contract.

It was an eye-catching buy, something that Liverpool have cultivated something of a reputation for across so many years of prize-winning sustainability. Football is fickle and its legion of supporters are too, but Liverpool have done alright over these past years, and may yet crown a new chapter with a Premier League title, six points clear with a game in hand.

Few foresaw this, however, there’s a German sat in a reclining chair somewhere in a Red Bull, wry smile on his face, who always knew that the time was right to relinquish his power and usher in someone new.

Liverpool may well win the Premier League and perhaps another competition too, but if the Reds wish to stay ahead of their fierce rivals over the coming years, it feels paramount that signings are made this year.

There is a willingness to fork out funds on the right target. Liverpool, after all, held a genuine interest in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Why Liverpool wanted to sign Kvaratskhelia

At the start of January, Liverpool made their interest in Kvaratskhelia known. Rumours were starting to surface of the Georgian’s potential departure from Napoli.

While Paris Saint-Germain were in the driving seat after holding early talks, Anfield’s sporting director Richard Hughes was attentive and, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, ready to pounce.

Fledgling intrigue failed to materialise into something concrete, with PSG advancing discussions and Liverpool opting against lodging an official bid. The 23-year-old is now formally Parisien property.

It does show that Liverpool would be willing to spend big on a left-sided forward, however, and shines a light on Luis Diaz’s contract situation: the Colombia international, 28, is contracted until 2028 but has long-standing interest from Barcelona.

Liverpool aren’t naive and have already honed their sights on a different target on the wing.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Liverpool monitoring rising talent

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Liverpool have been scouting Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, though Chelsea are also interested and have already made a formal enquiry.

Gittens might only be 20 but he’s already become a major player for the Yellow Wall and has excelled both in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.

Liverpool would need to fork out an incredible €100m (translating to about £85m) figure to bring Gittens to Merseyside, but if Diaz, for example, is signed by Barcelona, this could be a road worth pursuing.

What Jamie Gittens would bring to Anfield

Gittens might only be in the maiden stage of his career but he’s already proving himself as an important member of a talented Dortmund side, racking up 16 goals and 14 assists across 84 professional appearances for BVB, joining them after leaving the famed Manchester City academy.

With fleet feet, nifty skills and composure during vital moments, Gittens is undoubtedly made for Premier League football, his exciting performances over in Germany translatable.

Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley has even proclaimed Gittens to be “England’s best left winger in 2024/25” after his goal-heavy success under Nuru Sahin’s wing this season.

As per FBref, Gittens ranks among the top 7% of positional peers in the German top flight this season for goals scored while also ranking among the top 1% for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, highlighting not only his aptitude in front of goal but also his athletic qualities that could align neatly with Slot’s style.

Liverpool might have missed out on one of the world’s foremost wide forwards in Kvaratskhelia, but Gittens would be an able alternative and, perhaps, one with the capacity to eclipse the Georgia superstar down the line.

Matches (starts)

17 (15)

18 (14)

Goals

5

7

Assists

3

3

Shots (on target)*

2.9 (1.0)

1.9 (0.9)

Big chances missed

2

4

Pass completion

83%

83%

Key passes*

1.7

0.8

Dribble (success)*

1.1 (31%)

3.1 (52%)

Ball recoveries*

2.6

2.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.1

1.4

Total duels (won)*

4.2 (44%)

5.6 (51%)

Curiously, Gittens is already proving himself to be a clinical striker in front of goal, converting seven of his 11 big chances in Germany this term. Kvaratskhelia is also sharp in the final third, bagging five of seven in Serie A before jetting off to France.

However, you could actually make a compelling argument for Gittens being the more complete player from an attacking standpoint, for the English talent outranks Kvaratskhelia when considering combative and ball-carrying metrics. He might not be quite so heavy with his creative output, but Gittens has actually racked up as many assists as the new PSG recruit in respective leagues this year.

And anyway, the £49k-per-week prospect racked up eight assists last season despite only starting 18 matches across all competitions for Dortmund.

Hailed for one “special” Champions League performance by Romano, Gittens has the world at his feet and could become a major player at Liverpool.

It might actually be beneficial for his development to make the move to Anfield now and learn under the wing of superstars Diaz and Cody Gakpo, always with his sights set on a moveless starting berth down the line.

He’s already outperforming Kvaratskhelia in some interesting metrics and could ascend to the next level in Slot’s thriving system.

Liverpool now want "astonishing" forward to replace Salah; Slot loves him

The Reds are eyeing an attacker who plays for one of Europe’s top clubs.

ByDominic Lund Jan 18, 2025

The transfer window slams shut in less than a week, and as things stand, Tottenham Hotspur have not done enough business.

The only player Ange Postecoglou’s side have signed so far is Czech shot-stopper Antonín Kinský, who completed his £12.5m move from Slavia Prague all the way back on January 5th.

What makes this situation worse is that it looks like fierce rivals Arsenal are now looking to do some business of their own, as it was revealed on Wednesday night that they had seen an audacious £60m bid for Aston Villa and England star Ollie Watkins rejected.

However, there might still be cause for optimism on the white side of North London, as recent reports have now linked Spurs with another brilliant Premier League striker who has won comparisons to the Villa ace.

Tottenham target Premier League striker

According to a recent report from Foot Mercato, Tottenham are incredibly interested in Brentford star Yoane Wissa.

Transfer Focus

In fact, the report goes one step further, revealing that the Lilywhites have now initiated contact with the West Londoners and the player himself over the potential transfer.

A price is not mentioned in the story, but as reports from earlier this month claimed that Nottingham Forest had a £20m offer rejected for the Frenchman, we can only assume the Bees are holding out for something in excess of that.

It could be a complicated and somewhat costly transfer to get over the line for Spurs, but given Wissa’s ability and form, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’s been compared to the sublime Watkins.

How Wissa compares to Watkins and why Spurs should sign him

So, before we look at some of the other reasons Spurs should sign Wissa this month, let’s examine this comparison to Watkins and where it comess from.

Well, in this instance, it has stemmed from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in the Premier League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and, in this instance, has concluded that the Englishman is the fourth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Cameroonian superstar.

The best way to see how this conclusion has been reached is by looking at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, actual and expected non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive carries, shots on target, goal and shot-creating actions, tackles won, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.67

0.70

Actual Non-Penalty G+As

0.74

0.73

Progressive Carries

2.06

1.75

Shots on Target

1.32

1.35

Passing Accuracy

76.8%

75.5%

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.17

0.23

Shot-Creating Actions

2.29

2.20

Goal-Creating Actions

0.34

0.45

Tackles Won

0.17

0.17

Successful Take-Ons

0.51

0.34

Carries into the Final Third

0.80

0.79

On top of sharing quite a significant number of statistical similarities with the Villa ace, the former FC Lorient star also shares his positional versatility, having made 106 appearances at left-wing and 23 on the opposite flank across his career to date.

However, while an undeniable positive, the fact he is so similar to the Arsenal target is not the sole reason why Levy and Co should splash the cash on bringing him to N17 this month.

Another, arguably far more significant reason why the club should sign the Bees ace is his impressive output for a team outside the traditional ‘big six’.

For example, in 36 appearances for the West Londoners last season, totalling 2626 minutes, the underrated forward, whom Sky Sports News editor Lyall Thomas dubbed one of “the best strikers in the Premier League,” scored 12 goals and provided three assists, which comes to an average of a goal involvement every 2.4 games, or every 175.06 minutes.

Appearances

36

24

Minutes

2626′

1729′

Goals

12

12

Assists

3

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.41

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

175.06′

123.5′

This year, he looks set to do even better and has already amassed a haul of 12 goals and two assists in 24 appearances, totalling just 1729 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.71 games, or every 123.5 minutes.

Ultimately, Spurs need attacking reinforcements this month, and while he might not be the biggest name around, Wissa has more than proven his ability as a top-class Premier League goalscorer.

Therefore, Levy and Co must do what they can to bring him to N17, as he could well be their answer to Watkins should those in red get their man.

Big Werner upgrade: Spurs set for talks over sealing "unbelievable" signing

Timo Werner could be upgraded if Spurs land this signing.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 30, 2025

Leeds United did not opt to make any additions to their first-team squad during the January transfer window, which officially closed for business last Monday.

The Whites are currently top of the Championship table and will attempt to win automatic promotion to the Premier League with the same squad that got them into such a strong position to begin with.

Daniel Farke and the recruitment team will then be able to reassess the squad in the summer when they know what division they will be preparing for.

Whilst supporters could focus on potential transfer targets, there may also be stars out on loan who could return to Elland Road to play a part for the Whites, including Plymouth Argyle loanee Darko Gyabi, who played against Liverpool on Sunday and dominated the match.

Darko Gyabi's performance against Liverpool

The Premier League leaders turned up to Pride Park with a front three that consisted of reported £49m signing Luis Diaz, £45m signing Diogo Jota, and £12.5m signing Federico Chiesa.

This meant that Gyabi, who lined up in a defensive midfield role, was tasked with keeping £106.5m worth of forwards quiet to give Plymouth a chance of progressing through to the next round.

As you can see in the highlights above, the Championship strugglers secured a historic win, thanks to a penalty from Ryan Hardie, and Gyabi played a huge role in their success.

The England U20 international, who talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed as a “standout”, dominated the Liverpool midfield and attack and helped to keep the £106.5m duo quiet with his defensive strength in the middle of the park, as he won six of his eight ground duels.

Gyabi won four tackles and made one interception without being dribbled past a single time, and these statistics illustrate how dominant and almost faultless he was from a defensive perspective to help carry his team over the line against the Reds.

Leeds could hit gold with Darko Gyabi

Some supporters may see that Plymouth are rock bottom of the Championship and not think much of the Leeds loanee’s future prospects at Elland Road, but he is still only 20 and has plenty of time left to develop and improve.

The English youngster still has so many years left ahead of him to grow as a player and his experience in the second tier, with 39 Championship appearances for Plymouth since the start of last season, could be invaluable in his development.

Appearances

28

Starts

24

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.4

Ground duel success rate

58%

Aerial duel success rate

51%

As you can see in the table above, Gyabi has been a regular starter in the second tier and, despite his young age, has held his own in physical battles against seasoned professionals.

These statistics suggest that the raw physical materials are there for him to develop into a strong defensive or central midfield option for Leeds in the future, with his exceptional display against Liverpool showing that he can turn it on against high-quality opposition.

Bigger talent than Chambers: Leeds have another teen set for the first team

Leeds United have a player in their academy who could be an even bigger talent than Sam Chambers.

2 ByDan Emery Feb 9, 2025

Therefore, Farke could hit gold with Gyabi by bringing him back to Elland Road in the summer, after 18 months of experience with Plymouth, to utilise him as a potential first-team option next season.

Sky Sports pundit and Gunners legend Paul Merson is convinced that Arsenal are serious candidates to sign a big-name player in what would be a very surprising move.

Arsenal forced to wait for new striker after January transfer window ends

Manager Mikel Arteta saw his side fall short in a late £40 million January bid for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins (David Ornstein), and they were linked with a plethora of other high-profile centre-forwards throughout the winter transfer window.

What Newcastle are now demanding for Isak with Arsenal handed £75m discount

There are discrepancies over his value.

6 ByEmilio Galantini Feb 8, 2025

However, despite their best efforts, interim Arsenal sporting director Jason Ayto ended the window minus a new number nine, or any major incoming for that matter, with the north Londoners now dealt another shortage in the attacking third.

Leicester City (away)

February 15th

West Ham (home)

February 22nd

Nottingham Forest (away)

February 26th

Man United (away)

March 9th

Chelsea (home)

March 16th

Gabriel Martinelli has been ruled out for over a month after suffering a hamstring strain, with the Brazilian joining Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus on the treatment table and leaving Arteta even more bereft of quality forwards ahead of crucial Premier League fixtures.

These injury blows highlight the need for Arsenal to bring in more attacking quality this summer, as they hope to mount another challenge for domestic glory next season in the event they cannot catch Liverpool in this year’s title race.

Arsenal tipped to sign Tottenham legend Harry Kane

Some reports suggest that Arsenal are already laying the groundwork on a summer move for Benjamin Sesko, while Newcastle United star Alexander Isak is Arteta’s dream striker target.

However, Merson has now suggested a far more left-field name – Tottenham legend and Bayern Munich superstar Harry Kane. The 31-year-old has been flying ever since making the move to Germany, recently becoming the quickest player to reach 50 Bundesliga goals and smashing Erling Haaland’s record in the process.

England’s all-time top goalscorer also boasts 72 goals in 73 appearances for Bayern across all competitions, with reliable media sources reporting that Kane’s contract will include a £64 million release clause active from next January.

Merson is convinced that Arsenal could look to trigger Kane’s release clause, making a Sol Campbell comparison and stating he wouldn’t be surprised if the Spurs icon did end up on the other side of north London.

“Arsenal will buy him,” said Merson on Sky. “Why not? £64m, why not. Sol Campbell did [make the move]. People will go ‘oh he’s this age and that age’ but Arsenal need now.

“If Arsenal haven’t won the League, you’ve got to take a chance. You’ve got to take a chance, buy someone that’s proven. I wouldn’t be surprised, and when you’re Harry Kane, and you’ve been told you can go for £64m, there’s only a couple of teams who could buy him.

“Maybe Tottenham will buy him back, but he’ll have to win something at Bayern Munich to go back to Tottenham. If you’ve not won anything at Bayern Munich, you’re not going back to Tottenham to win nothing.”

It would be fair to say that, so far, this season has not gone to plan for Arsenal.

After coming painfully close to winning the Premier League in their two prior campaigns, Mikel Arteta’s side came into this year with the sole intention of going one step further, and when Rodri was ruled out in September, it looked like it might happen.

Unfortunately, in the months since, the Gunners have had to deal with a considerable number of injuries themselves, some questionable decisions from officials, and simply put, some lacklustre form from some of their star players.

Games

25

8

5

1

Wins

15

6

3

0

Draws

8

1

0

0

Losses

2

1

2

1

Goals For

51

16

11

0

Goals Against

22

3

7

0

However, it’s not all doom and gloom for the men in red and white, as a few players have stepped up this season, including one already being compared to some highly valued stars.

Arsenal's top performers compared to last season

While there have been several players who have taken a step back for Arsenal in terms of their attacking output this season, it’s worth starting things on a positive – well, sort of – as, prior to his injury in December, Bukayo Saka was on track to have the best campaign of his career.

Last year, the Hale End icon was utterly sublime for the Gunners, racking up a haul of 20 goals and 14 assists in just 47 appearances, totalling 3865 minutes, which comes to an average of a goal involvement every 1.38 games, or every 113.67 minutes.

Yet, as incredible as that was, the 23-year-old was doing even better this year, racking up nine goals and 13 assists in 24 appearances, totalling 1828 minutes, which means he was averaging a goal involvement every 1.09 games, or every 83.09 minutes, which is frankly incredible.

Appearances

47

24

Minutes

3865′

1828′

Goals

20

9

Assists

14

13

Goal Involvements per Match

0.72

0.91

Minutes per Goal Involvement

113.67′

83.09′

Unfortunately, while the Ealin-born superstar stepped up this season, many of his teammates, like Leandro Trossard, did not.

The Belgian international was a force of nature at points last year and, in 46 first-team appearances, totalling 2263 minutes, produced a brilliant tally of 17 goals and two assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.42 games, or every 119.10 minutes.

However, so far this season, the former Brighton & Hove Albion star has only been able to score five goals and produce seven assists in 37 appearances, totalling 2190 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.08 games, or every 182.5 minutes.

The good news is that while some of the senior players have let the side down this year, another gem has broken into the first team and is now being compared to some highly valued attackers on the continent.

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The £85m Arsenal star in the making

When Saka injured his hamstring in December, and then Gabriel Jesus injured his ACL just a few weeks later, there was a genuine concern over who Arsenal would play off the right.

Fortunately, Ethan Nwaneri stepped up and, since returning from his own minor knock, has looked like a nailed-on starter.

The “incredible” 17-year-old phenomenon, as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, was one of only a few bright sparks for the Gunners against Leicester City last week.

It was his cross that led to Mikel Merino’s opener, and on top of that, he hit the woodwork twice and was a constant threat throughout the encounter.

It was the sort of performance that shouldn’t come as a shock anymore because, as the campaign has progressed and Arteta has continued to give him more game time, the Hale Ender has continuously and increasingly impressed.

For example, in 24 appearances this season, totalling just 790 minutes, the Enfield-born wonderkid has scored seven goals and provided one assist, which means he’s currently averaging a goal involvement every three games, or more impressively, every 98.75 minutes.

On top of this, he has also been likened to Jamie Gittins by FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and, in this instance, has concluded that the Borussia Dortmund star is the second most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Arsenal dynamo.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.33

0.31

Assists

0.24

0.18

Shots on Target

1.42

1.20

Passing Accuracy

78.9%

76.1%

Expected Assists

0.24

0.22

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.24

0.18

Goal-Creating Actions

0.47

0.60

Clearances

0.24

0.24

Carries into the Final Third

2.62

2.87

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots on target, expected assists, crosses into the penalty area, goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Now, being compared to one of the most exciting players in Germany with 15 goal involvements to his name this season is encouraging enough, but it also bodes well for the Arsenal ace’s future valuation.

For example, according to a recent report from the German publication Bild, as relayed by the BBC, Dortmund are demanding around £85m for their young star, so given their statistical similarities and the financial strength of the Gunners, who to say that the Hale End gem won’t be worth just as much in the near future.

Ultimately, things haven’t necessarily gone to plan for the North Londoners this season, but in Nwaneri, it looks like they have yet another superstar attacker in the making and one who could have a massive part to play for the rest of the campaign.

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Tottenham Hotspur winger Mathys Tel has revealed which player is the best he has ever played with – and it is not Harry Kane or Son Heung-min.

Tel joined Spurs from Bayern Munich in the January window on loan, with Ange Postecoglou’s side holding an option to buy him on a permanent deal for £45m in the summer.

This comes after the Frenchman reportedly rejected Tottenham’s initial offer to sign him in January, when he was also linked with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.

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The 19-year-old has had an encouraging to start to his senior career, starring for Bayern in the German Bundesliga and Champions League after signing from Rennes in the summer of 2022.

Last season, Tel scored an eventual winner against Man Utd in the group stages of the Champions League, and has appeared 16 times in the competition, while he was a frequent substitute during the Bavarians’ successful 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign, with Tel winning the title alongside current England boss Thomas Tuchel.

His game time more than doubled last year, but he was unable to stretch Bayern’s winning run in the Bundesliga, despite posting a career best of 12 top-flight goal involvements.

This season, opportunities under Vincent Kompany had been few and far between, starting just four games in all competitions. Since joining Spurs, he has already hit that milestone, and grabbed his first goal in the Lilywhites’ FA Cup defeat to Aston Villa in early February.

Speaking in an interview with TNT Sports, Mathys Tel revealed various things about his career and personal interests, such as his favourite film, his most-hated food and who he has on his phone’s wallpaper.

But perhaps most intriguing was who he believes is the best player he has played with in his career. Despite playing alongside stars such as Harry Kane, Manuel Neuer and Son Heung-min, Tel opted for former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane.

He said: “There are a lot of players, but Sadio Mane was the best. He works hard every day, after training, before and after the game, so he’s an example for me.”

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Given both players share the same position, it is perhaps not a surprise to see Tel snub the likes of Kane and Son, despite their supreme goalscoring exploits in Tottenham colours.

Sadio Mane was at Bayern for the 2022/23 season before swapping the Bundesliga for the Saudi Pro League, where he now links up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.

Tel and Mane only shared the pitch on 11 occasions, which goes to show the effect the Senegalese star had on the French youngster during their short time together.

So Spurs fans may not need to hold a grudge against the winger, who could yet become a new hero in the years to come if he signs on at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when the season is over.

It’s crunch time for Tottenham Hotspur and Ange Postecoglou in the Europa League.

The North Londoners put in one of their worst displays of the season away to AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League last week and will have to seriously up their game to overturn the Dutch side’s 1-0 lead.

Unfortunately, there were poor performances across the pitch for the visitors in Alkmaar and then more of the same at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League a few days later.

So, Postecoglou must make a number of bold changes to the side that picked up just a point on the weekend, including the removal of Pedro Porro from the starting lineup.

Porro's fall from grace

When Tottenham completed the signing of Porro on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy in February 2023, there was some justifiable excitement from fans, as in just 26 appearances for Sporting CP that season, he had scored three goals and provided 11 assists.

Impressively, despite the significant jump in quality between the two divisions, the Spanish dynamo continued his good form in the Premier League that season and ended the campaign with three goals and three assists in just 15 games.

The following year brought much of the same in terms of attacking quality, as in 37 appearances, the Don Benito-born star scored four goals and provided seven assists, but concerns over his defensive abilities were starting to creep in, with mistakes in games against Newcastle United and Fulham as a couple of examples.

This season has been significantly worse, though, and not even the fact that he’s produced nine goal involvements in 40 games can help his case.

For example, against Ipswich Town, he was so comically poor at the back that journalist Mitch Fretton described his performance as a “horror show,” then against Arsenal in January, Spurs content creator Seb Martin described his showing as like a “nightmare.”

Finally, it was another “terrible” showing, per Spurs content creator Jaco, from the former Sporting star over the weekend, as he managed to lose the ball a staggering 27 times, which more than justified the 3/10 match rating dished out by Daily Express journalist Tom Parsons.

Overall, while Porro is undoubtedly a threat going forward, he’s a total liability at the back, and in a must-win tie like tonight’s, Postecoglou must ensure he’s nowhere near the starting lineup.

Appearances

94

Minutes

7788′

Goals

9

Assists

17

Goal Involvements per Match

0.27

Minutes per Goal Involvement

299.53′

The Spurs star who should take Porro's place

When it comes to replacing Porro at right-back for tonight’s must-win game, there are two options: move Djed Spence from left-back or start Archie Gray.

For our money, the best option in this situation would be the latter, and there are a couple of reasons for that.

The first has nothing to do with the youngster himself, but doing so means the manager can play Spence on the left instead of Udogie, who, like the Spaniard, has come in for more than his fair share of criticism over defensive fragilities this term.

The second reason is that even though he is a natural midfielder by trade, the “future £100m” star, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has more than proven himself as an able defender this season, whether at centre-back or full-back.

For example, he has made seven appearances at right-back and five on the left under Postecoglou, and more crucially, he has started every game of the Europa League campaign thus far and, aside from last week, has looked solid throughout.

Centre-Back

19

Right-Back

7

Left-Back

5

Defensive Midfield

2

Finally, according to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, for medium passes complete and shots blocked, the top 2% for carries and the top 4% for progressive passing distance per 90, which for someone playing out of position is not too bad at all.

Ultimately, Porro has been a consistent liability at the back for Tottenham this season, so for a must-win game like this, Postecoglou must keep Spence on the pitch and bring Gray on at right-back.

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